Mikkeli closes free public toilets after repeated vandalism

The city of Mikkeli has closed its free public toilets at the market square after repeated vandalism, Yle reports. The toilets have been shut since early spring and are unlikely to reopen because their safe use could not be guaranteed.

Market supervisor Kaija Ahonen said people urinated and defecated in the facilities, stole toilet paper and cleaning products, and damaged mirrors and bidet showers. Drug syringes were also found inside.

“At the worst stage, it would have been irresponsible to send even a cleaner there,” said Linda Asikainen, a service manager for the city of Mikkeli.

Repeated cleaning operations cost the city thousands of euros. Asikainen said public facilities had always experienced some vandalism, but the situation in the toilets had become exceptionally serious. She believed the market square’s central location may have contributed to the problem.

Restaurant also affected

Uuni Pizzeria, a restaurant at the Mikkeli market square, also experienced vandalism in its toilets during the winter. Restaurant manager Vili Lahikainen said the situation improved after the toilets were locked and a one euro usage fee was introduced.

Chairs were also stolen from the restaurant’s outdoor area about a month ago. The restaurant filed a police report and recovered the chairs at the railway station the following day after receiving a tip from a local resident.

Lahikainen said concerns about public order disturbances had affected the restaurant’s opening hours. On weekends, Uuni Pizzeria closes at 8 p.m.

“The atmosphere at the market square on weekend evenings is such that you have to be somewhat on your guard,” he said.

There have so far been no dangerous incidents at the restaurant, Lahikainen said.

Operators of cafes at the market square said vandalism had eased this year. Ville Asikainen of Toripulu said the situation improved after the city hired a night watchman for the square in summer 2024.

Minna Mieskolainen of Minnan Torikahvila also said there had been less vandalism than last year. Joni Tuunainen, the cafe manager at Siiskosen Marskin kahvila, said the cafe had avoided vandalism, although people returning from bars left rubbish at the market square at night.

Vandalism has increased nationally

Minna Väistö, a crime commissioner with the Eastern Finland Police Department, said vandalism was most commonly recorded as standard or minor damage to property, as well as public order offences. Some incidents are recorded under other criminal classifications, and not all cases are reported to the police.

National police statistics show that standard damage-to-property offences have increased slightly. There were nearly 25,000 cases in 2021, after which the number fell to just over 24,000 for several years. Last year, the total exceeded 25,000 cases.

The same trend applies to minor cases, which have numbered around 6,000 to 7,000 annually. Public order offences have also increased, from just over 1,000 cases in 2021 to more than 1,700 in 2025.

Last year, the highest numbers of damage-to-property offences and public order offences were recorded in the Helsinki metropolitan area and other major cities.

Police statistics indicate that the situation in Mikkeli has improved. The city recorded 261 damage-to-property offences and 16 public order offences last year. The peak year was 2024, when the combined number was slightly higher.

Yle has reported several times this year on vandalism in Mikkeli. The rear sections of local buses had to be closed after seats were damaged and stolen. The city’s outdoor areas have also experienced a slight increase in vandalism this year, according to Mikkeli city gardener Marko Vuorinen.